Article VI

Legislative Department

Legislative Power
Legislative power is essentially the authority
of the government to enact laws, repeal, or
amend them as well.
Legislative power in the Philippines is vested in
the Congress, which consists of bicameral
structure, namely: the Senate and the House
of Representative

Meaning of law
The term laws, as used previously, refers to
the statutes which are the written enactments
of the legislature governing the relations of the
people among themselves or between them
and the government and its agencies.

Functions of laws
Through laws, the legislative defines the
rights and duties of citizens, imposes taxes,
appropriates funds, defines crimes and provides
for their punishment, creates and abolishes
government offices, determines their jurisdiction
and functions, and in general, regulates human
conduct and the use of property for the
promotion of the common good.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the power to make,

propose or amend laws is also extended to the people,
in whom sovereignty resides, through the mechanisms
of initiative and referendum.
By Initiative, we mean that the authority is reserved to
the people through direct participation of the
electorate in law-making processes, either national or
local level.
By Referendum, it means the process in which the
people are referred directly on any question of law
passed by Congress or a local legislative body for their
approval or rejection.

Scope and Classification of

the Powers of Congress

1.General Legislative Power

A general legislative power of Congress is
usually undefined by the Constitution. This
power refers to the overall authority to enact
laws for the people and the State, unless the
Constitution itself limits the subject matter on
which it may legislate.

2. Specific Powers
They are powers which the Constitution
expressly directs or authorizes Congress to
exercise.
Among the specific powers of Congress as
mandated by the Constitution are:
a.Power to declare the existence of the state of
war. (Art. VI, Section 23 {1});
b.Power to delegate emergency powers to the
President. (Art VI, Sec. 23 {2});
c.Power to Appropriation (Art. VI, Sec 24-25);
d.Power to Taxation (Art. VI, Sec 28 {1-2});

e. Power to concur in treaties through the

Senate and the House of Representatives
(Art. VII, Sec 21);
f. Power to concur the grant of Amnesty (Art.
VII, Sec. 19); and
g. Power to act as Board of Canvassers for
Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections
(Art VI, Sec. 4)

3. Implied Powers
From the meaning itself, implied powers are
those authority enjoyed by the legislature to
effectively exercise its constitutionally granted
powers,
like
the
power
to
conduct
investigation in aid of legislation (Sec 21), or
to determine the rules of its proceedings (Sec.
16 {3})

4. Generally Non-Delegable Powers

These are powers that are essentially
inherent in the Congress, which need no
legislation or constitutional grant to that
effect. These fundamental powers of the State
are taxation, eminent domain, and police
power.

Composition of Congress

The Senate
(1) Composition and election
It is composed of 24 Senators. They are
elected at large (nationwide) by the qualified
voters, as may be provided by law (Sec. 2).
Unless otherwise provided by law, the regular
election of Senators shall be held on the second
Monday of May (Sec. 8)

(2) Term of office

It is six (6) years. It shall commence, unless
otherwise provided by law, at noon on the 30th
day of June next following election (Sec. 4, par.
1). The Constitution has a similar provision with
respect to the President and Vice-President
except
that
the
hour
and
date
of
commencement of their term of office cannot
be changed by law.

(3) Qualifications
A Senator must be:
(a) a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
(b) at least 35 years of age on the day of the
election (i.e., day of the balloting);
(c) able to read and write;
(d) a registered voter; and
(e) a resident of the Philippines for not less
two (2) years immediately preceding the day
of the election (Sec. 3)

(4) Maximum of terms

In line with the state policy on equal access
to opportunities for public service and against
political dynasties (Art II, Sec. 6), a Senator is
disqualified to serve for more than two (2)
consecutive terms (Sec.4, par. 2)

The House of Representatives

(1)Composition and election/selection

It is composed of not more than 250 members
popularly known as Congressmen. They are
elected from legislative or congressional districts and
through
a
party-list
system.
The
party-list
representatives are filled by selection or election
from the labor, peasant, etc. and other sectors as
may be provided by law, except religious sector (Sec.
5[1]).
Unless otherwise provided by law, the regular
election of the members of the House of
Representatives shall be held on the second Monday
of May (Sec. 8).

(2) Terms of office

It is three (3) years, to begin also, unless otherwise
provided by the law, at noon on the 30th day next
following election (Sec. 7, par. 1).
(3) Qualifications
A representative must be:
(a) a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
(b) at least 25 years of age on the day of the election
(c) able to read and write;
(d) except for a party-list representative, a registered
voter in the district in which he shall be elected; and
(e) a resident thereof for a period of not less than one
(1) year preceding the day of the election (Sec. 6)

(4) Maximum terms

The provisions are the same as those for
Senators except that the limit is for not more
than three (3) consecutive terms (Sec. 7,
par. 2)

Term of Office and Tenure of Office

A term of office refers to the fixed period of
service when an elected official may validly
keep his post. The term of office is usually
specified by the law.
A tenure of office, on the other hand, refers to
the actual period of service when an elected
official holds the office. Say, a congressman has
resigned halfway his term, this is not considered
as an interruption, but the service is still
regarded his full term or his actual tenure. Thus,

Party List System

The purpose of party list system is to bring
the government closer to people and assure
that the democracy really works in our society.
Party list representative system is a device of
balancing the representation in the election of
the members to the House of Representatives
from marginalized or under represented
national, regional, and sectoral parties
or
organizations
duly
recognized
by
the
COMELEC.

Only organized and duly registered parties with the

COMELEC may participate instead of individual
candidates. These are:
a. Sectoral Parties
These refer to organized groups of citizens whose
principal advocacy concerns and special interests are
in these sectors, namely: labor, peasant, urban poor,
indigenous communities, veterans, and elderly.
b. Sectoral Organizations
These organizations are groups of qualified voters
bound together by similar physical attributes or
characteristics or by employment, interests, or
concerns.

c. Political Parties
These are organized groups of qualified
voters pursuing the same ideology, political
ideas, and principles for general conduct of the
government.
d. Coalitions
Coalitions refer to aggregations of duly
registered national, regional, sectoral parties,
or organizations for political and/or electoral
purposes.

Qualifications of a Party List Nominee

1.A natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
2.A registered voter;
3.A resident of the Philippines for a period of not less
than one (1) year immediately preceding the
election day;
4.Able to read and write;
5.A bona fide member of the party he seeks to
represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding
the election day;
6.A nominee shall come from a disadvantage group of
citizens which are organized and duly registered to
the COMELEC; and
7.At least twenty-five (25) years of age on the
Election Day.

In case of the youth sector, a nominee must be

at least 25, but not 30 years of age on the
date of election.
Party list representatives are considered
elected members of the lower chamber, and as
such, enjoy the same rights, salaries, and
emoluments as regular members of the House.
They shall serve for three (3) year term with
the maximum of three (3) consecutive or
successive terms.

Vacancy in Congress
RA 6645 provides for An Act Prescribing the
Manner of Filling A Vacancy in the Congress of the
Philippines, signed into a law by then President
Aquino on December 1987.
In case of vacancy arising in the Senate at least 18
months or in the House of Representatives at least one
year before the next regular election for members of
Congress, the COMELEC upon receipt of certification of
vacancy, shall call for special election. The Senator or
Member of the House of Representatives thus elected
shall serve only for the unexpired term.
The election shall not be earlier than 45 days nor
later than 90 days from the date of such resolution.

Termination of Members of Congress

1. Voluntary renunciation of the office (Art. VI, Sec. 7
[21]);
2. Forfeiture of seat of a member in Congress during
incumbency, in case when he or she keeps another
office or employment in the government or any
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof,
including government-owned or controlled corporation
or subsidiaries (Sec. 13);
3. A penalty of suspension may serve a member of the
Congress for disciplinary action as determined by each
Houses rules proceeding (Sec. 16{3}). Congress can
punish any of its members for disorderly conduct;

4. An Electoral Tribunal, through a resolution,

may disqualify a member of Congress in
election contest (Sec. 17);
5. By means of resignation, death, incapacity,
or conviction which carries a penalty of
disqualification to hold office.

Compensation of Members of Congress

The salaries of the members of both Houses are
fixed by law; it may be increased, but the effectivity
of such shall only be given to the members after the
full term of their respective offices has elapsed.
However, no decrease of salary of members can be
allowed, as they are entitled to the right to salary.
Art. XVIII, Sec. 17 reads, The President of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House shall receive an annual
salary of P 240,000, and the Senators and the
members of the House of Representatives shall
receive P204,000 each per year

Rights and Privileges of Members of Congress

The Constitutional rights and privileges of members
of Congress shall include the following:
1.Right to salary;
2.Freedom of speech and debate without question;
3.Freedom from arrest while the Congress is in session,
except when the offense of which a member is
charged is punishable by more than six years
imprisonment; and
4.Parliamentary immunity. The aim of this privilege is
to facilitate that members of Congress can Effectively
discharge their functions without previous restraints.

Power of Congress

1.Over and above, the power to make laws and

to pass resolutions;
2.To approve appointments made by the
President
through
Commission
of
Appointments;
3.To decide cases of electoral protest involving
its members through an Electoral Tribunal;
4.To declare the existence of a state of war by
2/3
votes
of
both
Houses,
voting
independently;
5.To ratify treaties upon 2/3 votes of all
members of Congress, voting separately;

6. To grant the President emergency powers in times

of war and national distress;
7. To provide for the rules of presidential succession
should the speaker of the House fails to qualify;
8. To concur to a grant of amnesty by the President;
9. To exercise the power to override the veto power of
the President;
10. To hear and decide cases of impeachment against
high officials;
11. To exercise the power to amend or revise the
Constitution;
12. To prescribe, define, and apportion the jurisdiction
of lower courts;

13. To determine or apportion seats of Legislative

districts;
14. The power to tax and levy impositions;
15. To determine the disability of the President and
the Vice-President;
16. To break a knot ion case when there is a tie for
the position of President of the Republic;
17. To cancel or extend Martial Law;
18. To investigate in aid of legislation;
19. To approve the annual budget of the government
as prepared by the Executive;
20. To determine the rules of proceedings and more.

Parliamentary Immunities
Art. VI, Sec. 2 provides two immunities,
which a member of Congress may enjoy in the
exercise of his task (while the Congress is in
session). These are:
1.A Senator or a member of the House of
Representatives shall be privileged from
arrest while the Congress is in session; and
2.No member shall be questioned nor be held
liable in any other place for any speech or
debate in the Congress or in any committee
thereof.

The privileges are personal ones and may be

waived. There are, however, exemptions from
parliamentary immunities:
a.Given gravity and seriousness of the offense
committed, any members of the Congress
cannot invoke immunity from arrest, when
the penalty of the charge leveled against him
carries the penalty of more than six (6) years
imprisonment; and
b.When a member is not acting as a member of
Congress, but on his personal capacity.

Disabilities of Members of Congress

While the members of the legislative may be enjoy
some constitutional and statutory grants or privileges,
they are likewise constrained by some technical
disqualifications. As provided under Art. VI, Sec.14, the
prohibitions are:
1.No Senator or member of the House of
Representatives may personally appear as counsel
before any court of justice or before the electoral
tribunals, or quasi-judicial and administrative bodies.
2.Any member shall not, either directly or indirectly,
show financial interests in any contract with the
government or any of its agency or instrumentality
thereof, including GOCCs, during his incumbency.
This includes government franchise.

3. Any member shall not intervene in any

matter before any office of the
government for his own benefit.

Incompatible and Forbidden Office

By Incompatible office, we mean that no
member of the Congress may hold any other
office in the government or its subdivisions,
agency, or
any instrumentality thereof,
including government-owned or controlled
corporation, during his incumbency. A member
of Legislative cannot be appointed as a
department secretary or a director of any
government positions while holding his position
at the same time, not unless he resigns.

By Forbidden office, we mean that no

member of the Congress can be appointed to
any office created or the emoluments of which
have been increased during the term for which
he was elected. Under art. IX-B, Sec. 8 no
elective officer or employee shall receive
additional, double, or indirect compensation
unless specifically authorized by law, nor
accept without the consent of the Congress
any present emolument, office or title of any
kind from foreign government.

Sessions of Congress
Art. VI, Sec. 15 reads:
The Congress shall convene once every
year on the fourth Monday of July for its
regular session, unless a different date is fixed
by law, and shall continue to be in session for
such number of days as it may determine until
30 days before the opening of its next regular
session, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and
legal holidays. The President may call a
special session at any time.

1.Regular Session
The Congress shall meet or convene once in
every year beginning on the fourth Monday of
July for its regular session, unless law fixes a
different date. Once the Congress has
convened, the session continues for such
duration until thirty (30) days before the
opening of the next regular session, exclusive
of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.

2. Special Session
The Congress may be called upon by the President
anytime to consider some urgent and national concern.
Some peculiar characteristics include:
a.Special session has no definite or fixed date. It may
be called anytime;
b.Special session considers only one subject
matter/agendum when Congress is convened for the
purpose;
c.Special session may also be called or convened by
the Congress; and
d.Special session normally is brief and attends only to
the agenda being called for.

3. Executive Session
In some rare cases, the Congress or
the President may call for a secret or
close door session when matters
concerning national interest are to be
discussed.

Quorum and Business

Quorum is the required number of members of
each House to be present in order to legally transact
a business. Each House shall determine its own
quorum. The Constitution requires that the majority
of each Houses may adjourn from day to day, and
may compel the attendance of absent members in
such manner, and other such penalties as each
House may provide.
Both Houses shall elect their political leaders at
the pleasure of their members. The Senate shall
determine its speaker by majority votes of all its
respective members.

Disciplinary Behavior
Under the Constitution, each House of Congress may
determine acts constituting disorderly behavior, and
whether a Member should be suspended or expelled. Each
House is authorized under its Rules to punish its member
for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of twothirds vote of all kits members, suspend or expel an erring
legislator. The Constitution, however, limits the suspension
to sixty days.

Internal Discipline
Internal Discipline is an inherent legislative power.
The Court once said: If the power did not exist, it
would be utterly impractible to transact the business of
the nation, either at all, or at least with decency,
deliberation, and order. The humblest assembly of men
to understood to posses this power, and would absurd
to deprive the councils of the nations of a like
authority.

Journal and Enrolled Bill

A journal is an official report of the legislative. It is
written business, which arises from all the legislative
proceedings.
Art. VI, Sec. 16 (4)
each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings,
and from time to time publish the same, expecting
such parts as may in its judgment, affect national
security, and the years and nays on any question shall,
at the request of one-fifth of the member present be
entered in the journal. Each house shall also keep a
record of its proceedings.

An enrolled bill refers to a bill which has been

duly introduced, finally enacted by both House,
signed by the proper officers of each House, and
approved by the President. An enrolled copy bill is
conclusive not only of its provisions, but also of its
due enactment. In case of conflict between the
journal and an enrolled bill, the latter prevails over
the former, save as to matter required by the
Constitution to be enacted in the journal.

Adjournment
Art. VI, Sec. 16 (5) adds, neither the House
during the session of the Congress shall without
the consent of the other, adjourn for more than
three (3) days, nor to any other place than in
which the two Houses shall be sitting.

The Organization of Electoral Tribunal

Each House shall have and Electoral Tribunal, in
which shall be the sole judge of all contests
relating to the election, returns, and qualifications
of their respective members. The characteristics
and composition are:

1. Each Electoral Tribunal shall be composed of

nine members, three whom shall be justices of the
Supreme Court to be designated by the Chief
Justice, and the remaining six shall be members of
the Senate or the House of Representatives, as the
case may be;

2. Membership shall be chosen on the basis of

the proportional representation from the political
parties, and the parties or organizations
registered
under
the
party
list
system
represented therein;
3. The Senior Justice in the Electoral Tribunal shall
be its Chairman (Sec. 17);
4. Members enjoy security of tenure. It is coterminus with their legislative term of service;

5. The decision arrived at by the Electoral

Tribunal shall be final. It may be appealed though
to the Supreme Court on the cases or instances
of certiorari, grave abuse of discretion;
6. The Electoral Tribunal shall have jurisdiction
over election contests by the members of the
Senate and the House of Representatives as the
case may be. Pre-proclamation concerns or issues
are, however, the jurisdiction under COMELEC.

Organization
of
the
Commission
on
Appointments
The
Congressional
and
Commission
of
Appointments (CA) shall approve all appointments
made by the Chief Executive to various
government positions. All appointments by the
President can only be pursued upon the consent of
the
Commission
on
Appointments.
The
characteristics of the Commission are as follow:

1. The Commission shall consist of the President

of the Senate, as ex-officio chairman, 12
Senators, and 12 members of the House of
Representatives, elected by each House on the
basis of proportional representation;
2. The Chairman of the Commission shall not
vote, except in case of tie;

3. The Commission shall act on all appointments

submitted to it within 30 sessions days of
Congress from their submission; and
4. The Commission shall rule by a majority vote
of all members (Sec. 18)

Inquiries in aid of Legislation

The Senate or the House of Representatives or any of its
respective Committee, may conduct inquiries in aid of
legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of
procedure. The right of person appearing in or affected by
such inquiries shall be respected (Sec. 21). The Senate
Blue Ribbon committee is an example.
The power of inquiry and investigation exists not only to
enable Congress to discharge effectively its primarily
legislative and law-making functions.

Limitations of the Investigative Power of Congress:

1.Inquiry shall be conducted only in aid of legislation;
2.The Constitutional right against self-incrimination to the
person being investigated shall not be violated;
3.The right to counsel shall be respected to the persons
being investigated in Congress;
4.Each House conducting the inquiry shall publish the rules
of procedure governing the investigation and shall be
made known to the person concerned; and
5.Such congressional inquiry shall not serve a members
personal aggrandizement.

Question Hour
The question hour is a parliamentary feature
adopted under our presidential system. The
power of Congress to call any head of a
department, as its House Rules shall provide, to
appear before and be heard by the requesting.

Declaration of Existence of the State of War

Section 23 writes:
The Congress by a vote of two thirds of both Houses
in joint session assembled voting separately, shall have
the sole power to declare the existence of a state of war.
In times of war or other national emergency, the
Congress may, by the law, authorize the President, on a
limited period and subject to such restrictions as it may
prescribe, to exercise powers necessary and proper to
carry out a declared national policy. Unless sooner
withdrawn, by resolution of Congress, such powers shall
cease upon the next adjournment thereof

Appropriation Powers
The Administrative Code of 1987 defined
appropriation as an organized made by law or
other legislative enactment, directing payment
out of government funds under specified
conditions and/or for special programs. Thus, an
appropriation bill aims to authorize the release
of public funds from treasury.

The following bills shall originate exclusively in the

House of Representatives, but the Senate may
propose or concur with amendments:
1.Appropriation bills
2.Revenue or tariff bills
3.Bills authorizing increase of public debt
4.Bill of local application
5.Private bill

A General Appropriation is an annual budget, which

the Congress set aside to appropriate the expenses for
the general operation of the government.
A
Special
Appropriation
is
a
supplemental
appropriation not contained in the budget.
A Specific Appropriation is an appropriation sets aside
a fixed amount of money for the payment of a certain
program.
A Continuing Appropriation refers to the named
amount of money which, when not appropriated at the
end of the fiscal year, shall automatically be accrued for
the next calendar year.

Other Kinds of Appropriation

1.Tariff bill - is one that imposes revenues or customs
duties for specific purposes. But, a bill imposing high
tariff rates in particular foreign goods with the
purpose to protect local goods on industries against
competition is not a revenue bill.
2.Bill authorizing income of the public debt essentially, a bill, which facilitates the government to
issue bonds and other forms of indebtedness, which
will be chargeable from future public funds.
3.Bill of local application - a bill that directly allots
to local or municipal appropriation.

4. Private bill - a bill that affects purely private

interests, like indemnification to a person who
suffered damages from the negligence of the
government or its agency or instrumentality or
any part thereof.

General Rules of Appropriation (See Art. VI, Sec. 25)

1.The Congress may not increase the appropriations
recommended by the President for the operation of the
government as specified in the budget;
2.No provision or enactment shall be embraced in the
general appropriation bill, unless it relates specifically
to some parts/particular of the appropriation therein;
3.The procedures in approving appropriations for the
Congress shall strictly follow the procedure for
approving appropriations for other departments and
agencies;

4. A special appropriation bill shall specify the purpose for

which it is intended, and shall be supported by funds
actually available;
5. No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of
appropriation, except otherwise provided by law (Sec.
25{5})
6. Discretionary funds appropriated for particular offices or
officers shall be disbursed only for public use; and
7. if, at the end of any fiscal year, the Congress shall have
failed to pass the general appropriations bill for the
ensuring fiscal year, the general appropriation laws for the
preceding fiscal year shall be deemed re-enacted.

Budget
-refers to the financial statement or record of
the central government for an incoming fiscal
year, including the statements of the projected
receipts
from
revenue
collections
and
expenditures for the year.
Rider
-is prohibited under the Constitution. A rider is a
loose provision or enactment being inserted in the
general appropriations bill, which does not form
integral part of certain appropriation contained
therein.

Passage of a Bill

A bill is essentially a proposed law by the

legislative department. Each house may propose a
bill, when the House of Representatives proposes
one, it shall be called a House Bill, and when the
Senate initiates a proposal, it shall be called a
Senate Bill.

The Hodge-podged legislation refers to any

proposed measure consisting of general or more
unrelated subjects, but are integrated in the
proposal in order to guarantee support from
members of the Congress. The avoidance of
logrolling legislation is to ensure enough
consideration and support from the members in
regard to the passage of a bill into law.

The passage of a bill into law follows strictly

the procedures:
1.First Reading
2.Second Reading
3.Floor Debates
4.Printing and Distributions
5.Third Reading
6.Transmitted to the Other House
7.Submission to Joint Bicameral Committee
8.Approval of Consolidated Bill by Both Houses
9.Submission to the President
10.Veto Power of the President

10. Veto Power of the President

Particularly:
a.Every bill must be presented and approved by the
President;
b.In case, the President disapproves a bill, he
exercises veto power and returns it, with his
objection, to the House where it originated;
c.In case the House, after such deliberation,
considered the bill as proposed, a 2/3 vote may
carry its power to override the veto.

Component Parts of a Law

1.Title refers to the subject matter of the law,
or the Act carried by the legislative department,
and the executive as well.
2.Preamble introduces the objectives for the
enactment of the Act and explains the general
reasons for such legislation.
3.Enacting Clause refers to the collective and
distinct will of both Houses to enact an act or a
bill. Enacting clause specifically states the
reason for the legislation Act.
4.Body pertains to the total substance or
content of the proposed bill.

5. Effectively Clause indicates the time at

which the law shall take effect. Usually, a law
will be enforced next following the next 15-day
publication requirement in a newspaper of
general circulation in the Philippines or in the
Official Gazette, not unless a date is fixed as to
its effectivity.

Taxation is a means of raising funds for the

operation of the government, especially its public
services. The distribution of the tax burden should
be equitable or fair. This means a person has to
pay taxes based on his ability to pay. Taxes should
serve as tools in facilitating economic stability and
growth.

Basis of Taxation
Under the Constitution, the rule of taxation (See
Sec. 28) shall include the following:
1.The rule shall be uniform and equitable;
2.The taxation should be based on progressive
income system;
3.The Congress may authorize the President to fix
tariff rates, import and export quotas, tonnage
and wharfage dues, and other duties and
imports, subject to the limitation of the
Congress; and

4. Charitable institutions, churches and

parsonages or convents appurtenant thereto,
mosques, non-profit cemeteries and all
lands, buildings, and improvements actually,
directly, and exclusively used for religious,
charitable, or educational purposes shall be
exempt from taxation.

Who are exempted from paying taxes?

Charitable institutions, churches and parsonages,
or convents appurtenant thereto, mosques, nonprofit cemeteries, and all other facilities used for
religious and educational purposes.

Limitations of the Power of Congress

1.Under Art. III based on the Bill of Rights:
a.That the Congress cannot pass laws impairing
the obligations of contrast (Sec. 10)
b.That no law shall impair the freedom of
speech, of press, and of expression (Sec. 10)
c.That no law shall be made respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof (Sec. 5)
d.No person shall be held liable to answer for a
criminal offense without due process of law
(Sec. 14)

e. No person shall be imprisoned for

debts or non-payment of a poll tax
(Sec. 20); and
f. No ex-post facto law or bill of
attainder shall be enacted (Sec. 22)

2. Under Art. VI, Sec. 29

a. Money shall be paid out the treasury, except in the
punishment of an appropriation made by law; and
b. No public money or property shall be appropriated,
applied or paid, or employed, directly or indirectly, for
the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church,
denomination, sectarian institution, or system of religion,
or any priest, preacher, minister or other preacher,
minister or dignitary assigned to the armed forces, or to
any penal institution, or government orphanage or
leprosarium.

3. Art. VI, Sec. 30 states: no law shall be

passed increasing the appellate jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court as provided in this Constitution
without its advice and concurrence.
4. Art. VI, Sec. 31 declares: no law granting a
royalty or nobility shall be enacted.
5. The Congress cannot pass law granting tax
exemption in the absence of the concurrence of
the majority of all members of the House.

Legislative Power of the People

The legislative department is no longer the
sole body or institution, which enact laws and
pass resolutions. Under the 1987 Constitution,
the people have the power to participate directly
in legislating laws through initiative and
referendum.

Art. VI, Sec. 32 declares: The Congress shall,

as early as possible, provides for a system of
initiative and referendum, and exemption
therefrom, whereby the people can directly
propose and enact laws or approve or reject any
act or part thereof passed by the Congress or
local legislative body after the registration of a
petition thereof signed by at least ten per centum
of the total number of registered voters, of which
every legislative district must be represented by
at least 3 per centum of the registered voters
thereof.

End of Report

Group 2
Almazon, Ivan Christian
Dimaano, Rogiselle
Guce, Jesiree
Gutierrez, Joan Bernadette
Lazaro, Cassandra
Manabe, Maria Katrina
Reyes, Patricia
Saludo, Alyssa Marie